Multi Rating

[100LL81]

Just wondering how long it should take to get the multi, I know what all the flight schools are telling me. Just wondering what everybody thinks it should actually take.

[eterepekio]

5-7 hours.

[skypirate88]

Depends on you total time, but 5-7 hours would be a good estimate for someone with less than 200 hrs. I know of a couple instructors with 700+ total hours who got their multi done in around 3 hours.

[5x5]

It will also depend somehwat on what other experience you have. Do you have any single engine, constant speed, retractable experience? Ever flown along while someone else is doing their training - observation can be a valuable learning tool.

And like all your or any student's training, the time it will take is impacted significantly by how well you prepare. Spend as much dry time in the airplane as you can until you are completely familiar with the layout and use of all the controls, switches, gauges, levers, etc. Review all the procedures/checklists until you can visualize flying the aircraft from start up to shut down and mimic all the moves while in the cockpit. It's all free - so take control of the cost yourself and make sure your training is as effective as possible.

[hz2p]

It will also depend somehwat on what other experience you have. Do you have any single engine, constant speed, retractable experience?

Exactly. If you have never before seen constant speed prop, or cowl flaps, or retractable gear, or fuel injection, or RMI, or HSI, or DME, or IFR GPS, etc etc you have a lot more to learn than just engine-out drill.

This makes sense - a guy with 100 hours in a Bonanza is going to adapt to a Baron a lot faster than someone with 100 hours in a 172.

Plus, it all depends how good a stick you are. A twin is going to be heavier and probably more slippery (with the gear up) than anything you have flown before, with different speeds.

I don't think we're allowed to talk about it here, but some pilots simply get the feel of a different aircraft, and are at home in it, faster than others. I know it's not fair, but that's just the way it is.

A multi rating takes a long as you need it to. Technically your instructor could do one flight with you and then recommend you for a flight test. I am sure this has happened many times with foreign and ex-military pilots who have the same paper as you do now, but perhaps because of their experience, might be a bit better on the flight controls.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Just wondering how long it should take to get the multi, I know what all the flight schools are telling me. Just wondering what everybody thinks it should actually take.

For a low time pilot with only C152/C172 tine the realistic minimum IMO is 4 hrs in the practice area and 8 - 10 takeoffs and landings, plus another hour for the flight test. What that equates to in total hours depends on how busy the airport you are flying from, is and how long the transit to the practice area is. IMO I would plan for 8 hrs total. But as other posters have said this presumed you have done your homework and have all the normal and emergency procedures down cold
before you get into the airplane. This also presumes that you have a sensible instructor and a good FTU. If you are dumb enough to train at some outfit with 147 item long normal checklist for their light twin, than be prepared to pay a lot more. The secret is to do your homework, and do not train with an instructor who is a low time twin pilot with no practicle line operating experience. Find a school with experienced instructors even if it means you have to travel as it will cheaper and you will get better training in the end.

[yzfer]

I did mine, including flight test, in just over eight hours. My only flying experience prior to this was just over 100 hours in a 172. By the end of my multi-training, I was extremely comfortable in the plane and had no problems with the flight test. I did, however, spend many hours going over the checklists from before start to shutdown memorizing each action and switch position. This helped tremendously. I did the same with emergency procedures too.

If you have access to a sim you can practice flight test maneuver in, take advantage of that because it will undoubtedly help. It also helps to study the theory of engine out flight so you can understand and explain why you are banking towards the good engine, where the ball should be, why you can't climb, the relationship between between drag, power, speed. It will help you mentally think through exercises before you attempt them.

[canadapilot924]

Agree totally with BPF, if you can find a guy with plenty of multi hours you'll learn far more. Especially if they have experience in real IFR and ice (assuming you're doing the instrument rating next). Although I did mine in 6 hours with a fairly new multi instructor and had no problems...the blind leading the blind is the spirit of Canadian training!